Two of NXT's hardest hitters go head-to-head when Aleister Black, undefeated inside the yellow ropes, takes on Kassius Ohno. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

It’s hard to tell which blow was the harshest for Kassius Ohno: The collision of expectation and reality, or the wallop that Aleister Black’s boot put on his face.

Ohno put himself in the situation of getting clocked and pinned by Black, who remains undefeated in NXT competition on WWE Network. He was out to prove to himself that he’s a main player in NXT and, by asking General Manager William Regal to give him a challenge, show Hideo Itami that there’s a befitting way to move past setbacks. With Black, Ohno got his wish.

They shook hands and traded holds at the start of the match, revealing their mutual respect hadn’t faded since the days that Ohno helped train Black. However, it wasn’t long before the intensity kicked up a notch, thanks to a rough chop from Ohno, and NXT’s two premier strikers began bludgeoning the spirit out of each other.

NXT’s Knockout Artist put Black to the test. He landed big hits and, in between, even dared to mock his opponent. The antics seemed to backfire, though, as Black angrily stomped Ohno. In the end, it was a brutal and quick-moving exchange that ended with Ohno attempting the Rolling Elbow, only to be met by the Black Mass spinning heel kick. It wasn’t easy this time, but NXT’s serene striker made another Superstar fade to black.